In a tightly contested qualifier held in Austria, the Spanish women’s handball team and their Austrian rivals staged a dramatic draw that leaves the path to the World Cup and the Paris Olympic dreams still within reach. The match finished 28-28 after a late equalizer, confirming the teams will meet again with everything on the line in Antequera next Wednesday.
From the opening minutes, Spain showed a disciplined defensive display while pushing the tempo on offense. The visiting team faced early pressure but stood firm, limiting Austria to a modest start while looking to exploit gaps through quick ball movement and precise finishing. As the first half progressed, Spain gradually found rhythm and established a temporary edge, creating a lead that reflected their resilience and tactical plan.
Defensively, Spain leveraged a compact structure that forced Austria into tough shots and forced errors. The home side, led by a veteran defense marshaled by Carmen Campos and Alicia Fernández, pressed high and forced turnovers, translating stops into fast counterattacks. The Spaniards moved the ball with purpose, probing the Austrian block and drawing openings for their backcourt and wings to convert. The period closed with a narrow but meaningful advantage for Spain.
In attack, the Spaniards did not rely on a single scorer; instead they spread the goal-scoring load across the lineup. Kaba Gassama, who anchored the center, produced a number of decisive finishes before leaving the court at the end of the first half, a setback that the team addressed through a broader rotation. Wingers Jennifer Gutiérrez and Maitane Etxeberria supplied the pace and width the offense needed, while the central pairing of Campos and Fernández repeatedly bent Austria’s defense with well-timed feeds to the second line. By midgame, Spain enjoyed a temporary four-goal cushion as their execution remained crisp and purposeful.
Despite the favorable momentum, a red card to Eli Cesáreo midway through the match changed the complexion of the game. Austria capitalized on the suspension with sustained pressure, whittling away at the Spanish lead. Petra Blazek, the Austrian goalkeeper, stood tall, making several key saves that reignited hope for the home side and shifted the game’s tempo in favor of the hosts.
The scoreboard reflected a seesaw battle. Spain’s lead peaked at six to eleven before Austria’s reaction, driven by Katarina Pandza and Patricia Kovács at the front of their attack, began to close the gap. Novak and Reichert also contributed important scores for Austria, and Johanna Reichert’s quick counterattacks punctuated several periods where the visitors had to scramble to respond to another Spanish surge. The match remained tense and tightly contested until the final minute, when Pandza struck with five seconds remaining to force the 28-28 stalemate.
As the final whistle approached, the sense of urgency grew. Spain faced the possibility of losing a critical point on the road, yet the team’s character shone through in the closing moments. Alexandrina Barbosa, a veteran presence for Spain, delivered several long-range attempts that kept the score within reach and reasserted the team’s belief that they could secure a result with the right strategy. In the end, both sides defended resolutely and finished level, a result that preserves Spain’s chances for the World Cup berth and the Olympic pathway, while also underscoring the tough path ahead in the return leg.
In the aftermath, Spain’s depth was appreciated, as the side demonstrated a willingness to adapt when a central figure left the court. The game illustrated how a balanced attack—versatility across wings, backcourt, and pivots—can counter a well-organized defense. The match also highlighted the importance of discipline and composure, especially in moments of numerical disadvantage, as the Spanish team navigated the late pressure without letting the game slip away entirely.
The 28-28 result did not settle the matters for either team. The upcoming clash in Antequera next Wednesday will determine who advances to the World Cup, a tournament that serves as a gateway to the Paris Olympic Games. With both teams carrying Olympic aspirations, the upcoming duel is set to be a high-stakes, must-watch encounter that could define the course of their season.
Data sheet: 28 – Austria: Blazek; Wess; Katarina Pandza (3); Kaiser (3); Ines Ivancok (4); Kovacs (7, 3p); Neidhart (2); Lena Ivancok (ps); Frey (5, 1p); Reichert (4); Gschwentner; Kampelmühler-Rink; Sabatnig; Ana Pandza. 28 – Spain: Castilians; Etxeberria (2); Alicia Fernández (3, 2p); Campos (2); Arcos (1); Jennifer Gutiérrez (4, 1p); Gassama (5); Wiggins (ps); Marta López (2); Eli Cesáreo (2); González de Garibay (2); Valero; Mbengue; Tchaptchet; Barbosa (5).
The leaderboard by five-minute intervals showed a back-and-forth contest as 2-2, 4-5, 5-9, 7-12, 10-15, and 14-18 at the rest, followed by 18-20, 20-21, 23-23, 24-26, 26-28, and 28-28 at the end. Referees were Antic and Jakovljevic. Spain’s Eli Cesáreo was sent off with a direct red card, while Kovács, Frey, Kaiser, and Katarina Pandza were penalized by two minutes for Austria; in addition, Cesáreo, Campos, Tchaptchet, and Alicia Fernández were sanctioned for Spain. The match was the first leg of the 2023 World Cup qualifying round in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, played before a crowd of about 1,500 at the BSFZ Südstadt pavilion in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria.